Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Tax Expenditure Review Commission met with a quorum, approved the March 15 minutes, and then reviewed three tax expenditures: the home mortgage interest deduction, the subtraction for interest on contributions to a first-time home buyer savings account, and the angel investment credit. The first presentation focused on the mortgage interest deduction, including its current $750,000 debt limit, long history in Minnesota, estimated fiscal impact of about $91.8 million in fiscal year 2024, and the fact that it is an itemized deduction. The presenter said the historical purpose of the deduction is unclear, noted literature suggesting it was originally tied to recognizing costs of generating income or wealth, and suggested possible evaluation measures such as claim trends, comparisons before and after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and differences in effective tax rates across income groups. Members discussed whether the deduction is really intended to promote homeownership and whether it may have unintended housing-market effects. Some members argued it supports homeownership and should be considered part of Minnesota’s broader housing policy, while others questioned whether the benefit mainly accrues to higher-income taxpayers who itemize and whether it could inflate home prices. Department of Revenue staff explained that the federal $750,000 limit remains in place for now and is set to revert under TCJA rules in 2026, while Minnesota currently conforms to the $750,000 cap. The commission also discussed whether the deduction meaningfully affects home-buying decisions, with one member saying the tax savings may be too small to drive major price changes. The second presentation covered the first-time home buyer savings account subtraction, enacted in 2017 and estimated to have a fiscal impact of less than $50,000 per year, with 60 claims in 2020. Staff said the proposed objective is to encourage first-time buyers to save for a home, and suggested evaluating the program through Schedule M1HOME filings and by comparing it with direct spending programs such as Minnesota Startup. Members asked about usage and whether the contribution and interest rules are clear, and staff explained that the subtraction applies to interest earned on qualifying savings accounts. The meeting then moved on to the angel investment credit, but the transcript provided does not include that presentation or any votes or final actions beyond the minutes approval.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee held a hearing focused on reported antisemitic incidents at the University of Minnesota since October 7, 2023, and the university’s response. The chair said the hearing was limited to university-related conduct and not broader Middle East politics. He described concerns involving faculty and departmental statements, alleged discriminatory treatment in a journal submission tied to an Israeli university affiliation, campus encampments, vandalism and graffiti, a shooting that broke windows at Hillel, and the proposed hiring process for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The committee also outlined hearing rules, including no heckling, signs, or disruptions, and said it would hear from testifiers and question them afterward. Interim President Jeff Ettinger testified that antisemitism has no place at the university and said the institution also opposes Islamophobia and other bias. He said the university provides diversity training, affinity groups, and bias-reporting resources. On faculty statements posted after October 7, he said they reflected the views of certain faculty members, not the university, and that websites were updated to clarify that point. On the journal matter, he said editorial decisions may not use academic affiliation as a criterion, and that the journal later clarified its policy, apologized, and the university reaffirmed its commitment to academic freedom. Ettinger also described the university’s handling of the spring encampments, saying police ordered the first encampment to disperse, nine people were arrested without incident, and later the university negotiated with student protesters and Jewish student leaders. He said the university agreed to some protest-related commitments, including advocating for leniency for those arrested, while also making commitments to Jewish students and later removing the Nicholson Hall name after consultation. He reported that the Hillel window-shooting investigation found BB pellets but no suspect, and that the university condemns vandalism. On the Holocaust and Genocide Studies directorship, he said he paused the search after community concerns, withdrew the offer, and directed that the search be redone with broader community engagement. After his testimony, the chair raised concerns that lenient treatment of protest violations could encourage future disruptions, and Ettinger responded that the university had tried to balance competing obligations and may not have always gotten every decision right.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Majority in the Middle released its 2024 state of bipartisanship report, which found that overall bipartisanship in the Minnesota Legislature declined from 2023 to 2024 by several measures. The share of minority-led bills getting hearings fell in the Senate from 36% to 31% and stayed at 11% in the House, while bipartisan bill authorship declined from 45% to 38% in the Senate and from 27% to 26% in the House. The group emphasized that the report is meant to identify collaboration, not rank legislators, and noted that nearly all House members and all senators had at least some bipartisan bill sponsorship or co-sponsorship by the end of the biennium. Susan Kent and Sandy Layman, both former legislators, presented recommendations aimed at creating more space for bipartisan work and more hearings for minority-authored bills. They urged caucus leaders and committee chairs to preserve more committee time for discussion and amendments, ensure committee representation reflects the partisan makeup of the chamber, process more standalone bills, use omnibus bills more judiciously, and consider reasonable limits on floor debate. They also said conference committees and committee work should be more public and that legislators should hear more from constituents who support compromise. In the question-and-answer portion, speakers said the chaotic final night of session underscored the urgency of the report’s recommendations, especially concerns about large omnibus bills and rushed floor votes. They pointed to examples such as Senate Transportation and the House public safety policy bill as evidence that extended bipartisan committee work can produce unanimous or near-unanimous outcomes. They also discussed how primaries, endorsements, media coverage, and social media can discourage moderation and amplify conflict, and said Majority in the Middle plans to encourage more primary participation while continuing to promote bipartisan collaboration.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Legislative Task Force on Aging met on June 18, adopted the May 22 minutes, and moved public testimony to the end of the meeting to accommodate presenters. The main presentation came from Christine Burrows of the Colorado Department of Human Services, who described how Colorado has organized aging policy through the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging, the Lifelong Colorado initiative, the Colorado Commission on Aging, and a technical advisory committee. She explained that Colorado’s older adult population is growing rapidly, that the state surpassed the number of residents over 65 compared with those under 18 in 2023, and that House Bill 1035 strengthened the Commission on Aging and created a more formal structure within CDHS to operationalize aging recommendations. Burrows emphasized that Colorado does not have a standalone department on aging because of constitutional limits on cabinet positions, so aging services are spread across multiple agencies, including CDHS and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. She said the technical advisory committee helps coordinate across agencies, but also noted challenges with fragmented authority, separate budgets, and limited ability to hold other departments accountable. In response to questions, she clarified that the Commission on Aging is advisory to CDHS and the governor, while the state unit on aging administers Older Americans Act and state senior services funding, and Medicaid is housed separately under Health Care Policy and Financing. The presentation also covered data and planning efforts, including a public-facing Lifelong Colorado dashboard with about 170 indicators, work to define and measure unmet needs, and analysis of economic development, demographic trends, and budget impacts. Burrows said the state is trying to quantify its aging budget, which was last cataloged in fiscal year 2017-18 at about $1.9 billion, and is awaiting a new FY 2024-25 aging budget summary. She also described recent investments in age-friendly communities, direct care workforce wages, long-term care facilities, accessory dwelling units, transit-oriented communities, and public health infrastructure, and highlighted partnerships with local governments, area agencies on aging, philanthropy, and AARP.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s special review of the Minnesota Department of Education’s oversight of Feeding Our Future and the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. Auditors described how Feeding Our Future grew rapidly from 2018 through 2021, receiving unusually large reimbursements, and said MDE’s oversight was inadequate across application review, monitoring, complaint handling, and serious deficiency processes. The report said MDE missed warning signs before the pandemic, failed to hold the sponsor accountable to program requirements, and was ill prepared to respond once concerns escalated. The audit cited specific examples, including MDE approving applications despite concerns about weak financial controls, lack of accounting staff, and incomplete information; failing to conduct promised follow-up reviews; and not adequately investigating numerous complaints alleging improper site recruitment, unsafe or nonexistent food service, and possible kickbacks. Auditors also said MDE approved meal claims while the sponsor was seriously deficient even though records showed inconsistencies such as attendance numbers that did not match claimed meals, age-placement issues, and menus that did not reflect the food served. The auditors said they found no evidence of purposeful intent by MDE, but concluded the department was ill prepared and that its choices reduced oversight during the pandemic. Members reacted strongly, with one legislator saying the department knew about the problems for years and should have stopped the fraud earlier. In response to a question, the auditor said there was no evidence of purposeful intent, only that MDE was ill prepared to handle the situation. The report recommended that the legislature either establish sponsor-application criteria in statute or give MDE rulemaking authority, and recommended that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint investigations, and emphasize program integrity if oversight waivers are used in the future.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senators Mark Koran and Johnson discussed a new Office of the Legislative Auditor report on Feeding Our Future and said it vindicated Senate Republicans’ 2022 hearings. They argued the Minnesota Department of Education failed to use basic accountability measures, ignored warning signs as early as 2018, and did not effectively exercise its authority over the nonprofit sponsor. They cited examples such as MDE approving applications despite missing financial controls, failing to verify site information when property owners said they were incorrectly listed, and not following up on an administrative review that identified concerns. A major point of dispute was who first alerted the state to the fraud. The senators said the report shows the FBI notified MDE of allegations, contradicting the administration’s claim that it had proactively alerted federal authorities. They also said MDE had a duty to report suspected fraud to the Legislative Auditor and that the agency’s response reflected a lack of transparency and accountability. The speakers emphasized that the fraud was not caused by a lack of authority, but by failure to use existing state and federal oversight powers. The senators said the report shows Feeding Our Future’s growth and red flags were obvious well before the pandemic, and that the agency could have stopped the scheme through annual reviews and site visits. They criticized the lack of consequences for agency leadership and said the Legislature should consider broader anti-fraud reforms, including a more independent inspector general-style office that can investigate fraud across multiple agencies. They also said the OLA’s work is ongoing and may lead to additional piecemeal reports and referrals to law enforcement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct met to review the complaint involving Senator Nicole Mitchell and received an update from counsel on the status of related criminal proceedings. Counsel reported that Mitchell’s omnibus hearing had been continued to July 1, that no new court orders or hearings had occurred, and that the parties were engaged in discovery. Members also asked about a separate case involving body camera footage; counsel said no opinion had yet been issued, but if that case is resolved the footage could become public before the subcommittee’s next meeting. The committee discussed when to reconvene, with members noting scheduling conflicts across several July dates. One attorney present offered his view that the criminal case would likely not be substantially advanced by late July and that final judgment could still be months away. Members emphasized that the subcommittee’s work is separate from the criminal case and focuses on whether there is probable cause for an ethical violation under Senate rules. The subcommittee voted to defer action and meet again on July 25 at 11:00 a.m., with authority to advance the meeting sooner if new information becomes available. Counsel said she would look into whether the committee has subpoena authority for body camera footage. The chair also announced that the recording of the May 7 executive session will be released to the public only after the complaint is fully resolved, consistent with past practice.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Committee met on June 5 with a quorum present and took up several administrative and personnel matters. The committee first considered Committee Resolution 12.1, which authorized staff compensation items: a one-time payout of up to 40 hours of vacation or comp time, conversion of up to 50 hours of vacation or comp time into deferred compensation or an alternative Senate match, and continuation of a $50 monthly technology and communication stipend for permanent and temporary employees for the fiscal year. After a brief question and clarification about the stipend, the resolution was approved by roll call, 8-0. Members then reviewed and approved the Senate employee roster dated June 5, 2024. Secretary B explained that pay differences in positions such as Legislative Assistant 1 reflect experience-based starting pay, years in role, and merit compensation. Senator Marty asked about the lowest legislative assistant salary and inflation; Secretary B said the range minimum had been increased, including a 3% across-the-board increase and up to a 3.5% merit increase approved for the coming year. The roster was adopted by roll call, 8-0. The committee next considered changes to Senate Policy 3.05 on travel approval and expenses. Secretary B said the revisions would streamline approvals by reducing layers of sign-off and better align policy with current practice, including committee travel budgeting through agreement with the Management Advisory Committee. Senator Limmer asked about whether members have a set travel allowance, and Secretary B said there is no absolute right to a specific professional development travel amount, though budgets are distributed equitably among caucuses. The policy change was approved by roll call, 9-0. Finally, the committee approved the interim travel expenses and PDAM expense letter dated June 5, 2024, also by roll call, 9-0. In closing comments, members thanked staff for their work and discussed possible future rule changes, including remote voting for conference committee members, possible speaking-time rules, and a potential Senate staff policy on artificial intelligence use. No further business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The task force first approved the minutes from its April 2024 meeting. During public testimony, Nathaniel M. Olsen, a disability advocate, argued that the task force’s work should include people with mental disabilities and guardianship issues. He described his own experience with a guardian and alleged mistreatment, saying the state should better fund and oversee guardianship and protect vulnerable adults. Task force members responded that aging and disability are connected, that they hear his concerns, and that guardianship is being reviewed as part of their work. The committee then heard from Sean O’Neal of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, who presented the Chamber Foundation’s Minnesota 2030 report on long-term economic trends. He said Minnesota has a highly developed economy with strong productivity, high labor force participation, and a diverse industry base, but that growth has slowed over time. He attributed much of the slowdown to an aging population, slower growth in the core working-age population, declining labor force participation, especially among workers 55 and older, and a tighter labor market. He noted Minnesota’s labor force fell sharply during the pandemic and has not fully recovered, and he said the state’s long-term GDP growth is projected to remain relatively slow unless labor force and productivity growth improve. In discussion, task force members asked about the difference between the Chamber and its foundation, the role of age distribution by industry, and what “flexibility” in state and local policy would mean in practice. O’Neal declined to offer specific policy recommendations but emphasized broad principles: employers and policymakers should adapt to a multigenerational workforce, support flexible work arrangements, and avoid overly restrictive labor rules. Members raised concerns about ageism in post-retirement work, self-employment, and access to small business financing for older adults. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the approval of the minutes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Task Force on Aging met on May 22, 2024, approved the April 2024 minutes by roll call vote, and then heard a presentation from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Council on Aging. The presenters outlined the department’s mission, structure, funding, and network, noting Pennsylvania’s large and growing older adult population, the department’s reliance on lottery revenue and federal Older Americans Act funds, and the role of 52 area agencies on aging. They also described key partners such as the Pennsylvania Council on Aging, the Long-Term Care Council, the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, AARP, LeadingAge, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Centers for Independent Living, while acknowledging challenges such as siloing across agencies, limited staffing, and coordination across many local agencies. A major focus was Aging Our Way PA, the state’s 10-year multisector aging plan. The presenters said the plan was stakeholder-driven, with more than 200 listening sessions, over 10,000 responses, and additional surveys and public comments gathered statewide, including outreach to rural communities, deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, and Spanish speakers. They emphasized that the plan is intended to be a living document centered on five priorities: unlocking access, aging in community, gateways to independence, caregiver supports, and education and navigation. These priorities are aimed at improving equitable access to services, housing, transportation, caregiver support, and easier navigation of aging services, with more than 160 tactics still being finalized. Task force members asked about academic partnerships and evaluation. Pennsylvania said its university partnerships, including with the University of Pittsburgh, are generally project-based and often tied to specific program evaluations, though the department hopes to develop a more ongoing evaluation capacity through future budget requests. Members stressed the importance of data, implementation tracking, and transparent evaluation in any final recommendations. The department agreed, saying it plans to publish public comments with identifying information removed and that it wants to demonstrate return on investment for home- and community-based services as a way to show effectiveness and avoid unnecessary movement into Medicaid-funded care. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The transcript contains only repeated expressions of thanks and does not include any legislative discussion, testimony, bills, motions, votes, or other meeting actions. No substantive committee or floor business can be identified from the provided text.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House and Senate leaders, including Speaker Melissa Hortman and Leader Jamie Long, described the end of the Minnesota legislative session as highly productive but marked by unprecedented delays and partisan obstruction. They said Democrats used their majority to pass major priorities from the 2023-24 biennium, including gun violence prevention, investments in children and families, reproductive freedom, permitting reform, medical debt reform, an expanded child tax credit, and measures related to climate and clean energy. They also highlighted the rideshare agreement, saying it preserved Uber and Lyft drivers’ work in Minnesota and improved pay and benefits. Leaders repeatedly argued that Republicans used prolonged debate and filibusters to block progress, forcing the majority to use extraordinary but rule-authorized procedures to finish bills before midnight. They said many of the measures had already been heard in committee and debated extensively, and that Republicans were on the conference committees, so the contents were not new or hidden. Hortman also said the late-session omnibus approach was necessary because of the time constraints created by the delays. A major point of contention was the failed bonding bill, which leaders said was lost by about 30 seconds because it could not pass after midnight. They also discussed the Equal Rights Amendment, saying the effort was advanced but not completed this session and would likely continue in the next legislature rather than through a special session. Throughout, Democrats framed the session as the “second Minnesota Miracle,” while acknowledging the chaotic floor finish and defending their actions as necessary to complete the agenda.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Frank Hornstein delivered a farewell-style floor speech filled with thanks, personal reflections, and a brief musical closing. He thanked transportation committee staff, especially Tenzin Sangye and Matt Baumgartner, and expressed gratitude to his wife Marcy, his sister Ruth, his children, and his colleagues. He said the chamber runs on relationships and noted that he had served on the transportation finance committee every term since 2002, learning from members across the state and valuing bipartisan and cross-chamber relationships. Hornstein highlighted several colleagues and shared personal stories about his family, including the recent birth of his granddaughter Lucia, named for his mother, and his parents’ survival of the Holocaust. He spoke about generational responsibility, the need to fight hate, and the importance of representing people who have not previously been represented in the legislature. He also praised specific colleagues such as Senator Scott Dibble, Jamie Long, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Paul Tissen, and Senator Tina Smith, and recalled Speaker Hortman stepping in to chair a transportation conference committee when his father died. He closed by saying legislators come to the chamber to make change on behalf of constituents, whom he described as his greatest teachers, and then quoted and sang the opening lines of Bob Dylan’s "The Times They Are a-Changin'." No formal vote or legislative action was taken in this excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Deb Kiel of Polk County delivered a farewell speech reflecting on her 14 years in the Minnesota House. She said the timing of her departure felt right, cited a Bible verse about “a season” for everything, and explained that health issues and family considerations helped lead to her decision to step away. She also spoke about how serving in the House broadened her understanding of Minnesota, especially the differences and shared challenges between rural, suburban, and metro areas. Kiel spent much of her remarks thanking the people who supported her work, including committee members, legislative staff, LAs, front desk staff, Sergeant at Arms, researchers, revisers, constituents, and her family. She specifically noted several staff members by name and said legislative staff made members look good and helped the work run smoothly. She also thanked colleagues for their friendship and leadership, including her vice chair experience and those who helped her during her time in the chamber. She did not discuss pending legislation or take part in any recorded vote in this segment. The speech was primarily a personal retirement and appreciation address, with Kiel emphasizing service, relationships, and the importance of balancing the needs of rural and metro Minnesota, especially in education.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Wans gave a farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his service in the Minnesota House and his appreciation for the Capitol, his community in Washington County, and the legislative process. He described early influences on his civic engagement, including a fifth-grade field trip to the Capitol, his mother’s encouragement, and a ninth-grade civics class, and he thanked House staff, pages, leadership, and colleagues across several committees and task forces, including Judiciary, Workforce, Veterans, and the Metropolitan Governance Task Force. Much of the speech was personal and lighthearted, with repeated thanks to colleagues and references to shared work on veterans issues and other community concerns. He also clarified a mix-up between his name and Representative Mike Weiner’s on an earlier bill, noting that the bill had been misattributed. No formal legislative action or vote was taken in the speech itself. He closed by honoring his father’s love of Lincoln and quoting the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s advice to “be a good one,” using that as a reflection on public service and character. The chamber responded with applause.